<p>I just got a call from NYU saying that I was taken off the waitlist and I am thrilled. I'm not so sure how happy I'll be when I get my financial aid packet, though.</p>
<p>Since I was still waiting on NYU (Steinhardt), I enrolled at Villanova (Arts & Sciences).</p>
<p>I got a huge grant from Villanova so even without the loans, I would be paying less than $7000 a year. Is it worth passing this up for NYU?</p>
<p>I am considering a major in Communications and think that being in NYC would be awesome for internships. I'm not sure if it's worth the money though. (I'm assuming I won't get much financial aid from NYU.)</p>
<p>What should I do? Opinions, please.</p>
<p>Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!</p>
<p>I can't speak for the quality of their offerings;however, I have seen both schools. They are REALLY DIFFERENT in feel, culture, location and offerings. You really, really need to check out each school.</p>
<p>NYU is the stereotypical BIG city school with a huge number of offerings. There is no campus per se since Manhattan is your campus! They have some outstanding divisions such as Tisch School, Stern, and some top ranked programs in their arts and science school, namely; math and philosophy.</p>
<p>Villanova does have a campus. It does NOT have the offerings or variety of NYU nor ( to my knowledge) does it generally have the big names as with NYU. However, it is a more nurturing environment and kids generally like it there. You won't,however, get the same mass quantity of offerings that you would get at NYU. It is certainly not as impersonal as with NYU. I could go on and one about each school.</p>
<p>As I said, you really need to check out each school.</p>
<p>I agree with taxguy, I am familiar with both and they are very different size, culture, nature of the students, location, etc. On the simple side, big city vs a school in the burbs (nice enough campus). Willanova is on train line and easy access to Center City Phila, and the hangout places like Bryn Mawr, Ardmore, etc. But none of those is NYC.</p>
<p>I am a huge fan of the city; NYU is my first choice, but the money issue is making this a hard decision. Other than that, I would much rather be at NYU. It would be convenient, too. I only live 45 minutes away from NYC. I just need to make sure that NYU is worth the extra money. Villanova seems free compared to NYU...</p>
<p>You said it yourself "I would much rather be at NYU". College is a once in a life time thing. Go with your heart sometimes. After all we can both go hide in Australia when it comes time to pay back our NYU loans right?</p>
<p>NYU is a substantially better school for communications. </p>
<p>I have a friend who's going there; she was able to petition for more aid, and was given the opportunity to do work-study too. They're good about that. </p>
<p>If the decision were totally up to me, I'd go with NYU. I might have a hard time convincing my parents, though. My mom thinks NYU is the slightly better school, but my dad is suddenly in love with Villanova.</p>
<p>Also, both of them think having a school campus is important. I don't think I mind NYU's lack of an actual campus; is it something I should be more worried about?</p>
<p>Villanova by a mile. They have solid academics and you will get a real college experience. NYU is terrible with aid and it is not worth the debt. Look New York City isn't going anywhere (plus most bars are 21+ anyway), go to Villanova for undergrad and NYU for grad school.</p>
<p>I think I just like the idea of being in the city, not necessarily being at NYU itself. If NYU was located somewhere else, I'm not sure how much I would want to go there.</p>
<p>I've also been hearing very mixed things about which school is better academically. Some people say NYU, some people say Villanova.</p>
<p>Anyone know which school has the better communications program?</p>
<p>For undergrad, most people judge on the overall strength of the school. Also, keep in mind many people change their majors. </p>
<p>At NYU, you are basically living by yourself in the city. Villanova has more of a community feel -- campus lawns, D-1 sports, etc. Also, DEBT is very real -- and its easy to have the mindset of "I'll worry about that later". Seriously, save your money and go to Villanova. The academics at Villanova are equal - if not better - than NYU and the cost difference is tremendous.</p>
<p>You can always enjoy New York City. Its the main appeal of NYU but you can live there after you graduate or go to grad school at NYU.</p>
<p>Yeah, I've never really worried about the whole money thing. I'm not great with thinking about numbers. But I do know that NYU will cost my parents and me a fortune.
It's just hard to refuse NYU because I've always wanted to go there. I didn't really look into Villanova until I found out how much money they were giving me. Free laptop, too. And my dad is bribing me, saying he'll get me a new car if I go to Villanova, since I'll be saving him a lot more money than the worth of a car.</p>
<p>I vote for Villanova. NYU seems so huge and impersonal and expensive. Besides Villanova has tons of spirit, esp bball.Communications is a field where talent and drive will get you in the door and up the ladder. Then go to Columbia Grad after you work awhile in NYC. How did you get such great money if you can afford NYU? Hook, please?</p>
<p>I actually asked the financial aid office that question. The lady I talked to on the phone said that my dad's income was too high for us to receive a federal grant, but they saw that we paid a lot of taxes so my parents' contribution wouldn't be nearly enough to pay for tuition.</p>
<p>Almost all of the money I got came from the Villanova Grant, which pays for tuition. And I got two other smaller grants, and three small loans. So that basically pays for everything.</p>
<p>It's hard to give up NYU because of the city, but I agree with your Dad and those voting for Villanova. Don't go into debt for a BA or MA if you can avoid it, especially in this economic climate--it's clear from the grant, too, that Villanova wants you. Enjoy Philly, do your best at Villanova, and go to NYC for grad school.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice. Unless NYU miraculously gives me a huge grant, I will probably end up going to Villanova. That way, I'll be saving money and won't have to limit myself for grad school.</p>
<p>I talked to the financial aid office at Villanova and apparently, I am "very needy." According to my dad's tax forms and whatever else they look at, he can only contribute 4k a year, and that's why I got such a nice grant from Villanova. I'm hoping this is the case with NYU. I'm not expecting a grant as big as the one Villanova gave me, but hopefully my financial need is considered and they decide to be generous.</p>
<p>The campus situation doesn't matter much to me because I absolutely love the city.</p>
<p>I should be getting my financial aid package soon...</p>